Cognitive, Noncognitive, and Social Skills and Alcohol Consumption

We study the effects of cognitive, noncognitive, and social skills on alcohol consumption, measured through total quantity, frequency, typical quantity, and binge drinking. Using the data from the NLSY79, we find that cognitive skills increase drinking frequency but reduce binge drinking and typical quantity. Noncognitive skills negatively impact frequency, typical quantity, and binge drinking, whereas social skills positively affect all measures of alcohol consumption. We present a framework and employ parametric causal mediation analysis to explore transmission channels, identifying mental wellness, future planning, and occupation prestige as significant mediators. However, the direction of this influence varies, highlighting the heterogeneity of the transmission channels.